The fourth of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky, Wang Ming, finally made his appearance.
He looked quite burly and robust, even more so than Wang Shan, standing about one zhang tall like an iron tower.
His muscles were knotted and powerful, his arms thicker than an ordinary person's two thighs combined. He seemed less like a human and more like a powerhouse from the Giant race.
Clad in animal skins with disheveled hair and a rough face, he resembled a wild man more than a bandit, exuding a savage aura.
His appearance caused exclamations from many present, with countless bandits gazing at him with fervent eyes.
Each of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky was a legend, revered and worshipped as divine spirits by bandits across the entire Black Sky Plains and even the world.
Especially the fourth, Wang Ming. Although ranked among the Eight Great Bandits, he wasn't very old. On the contrary, he was truly young, barely a hundred years old to date. Compared to Saints who often lived for two thousand years and the long cultivation spans of cultivators, he could be considered incredibly young. He belonged to the same generation as the Yuan Yao Divine King and the Sun God, still counted among the younger generation.
He was also a legend among the world's many bandits, having entered the Black Sky Plains twenty-five years ago to become the fourth great bandit.
Some said he successfully challenged the previous fourth great bandit and seized his rank. Others believed his strength simply placed him fourth, for although Wang Ming was young, his cultivation was peerlessly powerful, not inferior to a Saint Lord.
The appearance of such a legendary figure naturally drew the attention of many.
But at this moment, Ye Chen's eyes erupted with piercing brilliance. After staring at this legendary fourth great bandit for a moment, he suddenly smiled faintly, a look of relief on his face.
No wonder Wang Shan always gave him a sense of familiarity. So his master was actually this fellow Wang Ming.
Because his old friends had all grown up. The War King, Tai Su, the Peacock King, and others had reached the pinnacle of the Saint Treasury Realm, just a step away from Samsara. And Wang Ming had also reached this stage, becoming a legendary great bandit.
The changes in his old friends made him sigh at the passage of time. Time truly was the greatest force in the world, capable of making those who were once weak stand tall and mighty.
"Master!"
Wang Shan looked at his master Wang Ming with reverence. Their auras shared the same origin, but Wang Ming was far more powerful, vastly superior to Wang Shan within the Saint Treasury Realm, not weaker than a Saint Lord. Wang Ming glanced at him, his face expressionless as he nodded, saying, "More trouble than you're worth. Go back and participate in the Domain War, temper yourself properly."
Wang Shan's face immediately soured, looking very troubled and distressed by the so-called Domain War.
Then Wang Ming looked at Chen Ruo. His cold face instantly softened, devoid of any authority, instead appearing honest and gentle. He chuckled, "My niece actually came. You came to your Uncle Wang's territory without saying a word. If you'd told me earlier, I'd have had this nominal junior brother of yours bring a million troops to welcome you."
Chen Ruo giggled, her bright eyes and faint smile radiating charm, like the most lively and adorable little sprite between heaven and earth. "Uncle Wang, you're lying. Be careful I tell Mother that you were watching from behind and didn't come out even when I was in trouble."
Mentioning Chen Ruo's mother, Wang Ming, this dignified great bandit, shuddered involuntarily and hurriedly forced an awkward smile. "My good niece, you wouldn't really do that to your Uncle Wang, would you? I just wanted you to temper yourself properly. Is that really necessary?"
Chen Ruo planted her hands on her hips and snorted. "And you have the nerve to say that! If this young lady hadn't known you were behind there, and if I hadn't called you, would you have dared not come out?"
The fourth great bandit's expression stiffened. He then looked at the youth beside Chen Ruo—handsome, possessing kingly bearing, clearly an extraordinary Young King of the new generation.
But for some reason, he always felt this youth before him seemed familiar, as if he had met him somewhere before.
"Wang Ming."
Ye Chen smiled gently. At this moment, the crescent moon mark that had long vanished from between his brows faintly appeared for an instant. Wang Ming was as if struck by lightning, standing there dazed for a long moment, motionless. But surprisingly, faint traces of mist appeared in his eyes, tears glistening.
The fourth great bandit was crying!?
This scene left everyone stunned. What had happened to make Wang Ming lose his composure like this?
Even Wang Shan had never seen his master so distraught.
"We'll talk later. Let's deal with the immediate problem first," Ye Chen said with a slight smile, his attitude as calm as ever.
"Good!" Wang Ming nodded heavily. The tears in his eyes instantly evaporated. He turned around, restoring the dignity of a great bandit, his hair thick and ink-black, facing the Valley Master of the Scarlet God Valley directly. His expression now was icy and ruthless. "You're the Valley Master of the Scarlet God Valley, right? I don't want to bother with you now, nor waste words. One word: scram!"
Wang Ming was extremely domineering, not placing the Scarlet God Valley Master in his eyes at all, directly ordering him to scram, leaving countless people dumbfounded. He was far too forceful and overbearing.
The Scarlet God Valley Master's expression changed, then darkened. In all his years since entering the world, from being a prodigy in the Scarlet God Valley to reaching the Saint Lord position, he had always gotten whatever he wanted, ruling over a great domain, dominating the rise and fall. No one had ever dared to order him to scram like this.
To suffer such humiliation today—if word got out, what face would he have left to show the world?
"Wang Ming, you're just a junior. How dare you berate this lord? Do you truly think the so-called Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky are invincible under heaven? Compared to my Scarlet God Valley, you are nothing," the Scarlet God Valley Master coldly shouted.
"If that's all the nonsense you have, then scram quickly. Before I change my mind. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind at all wiping out this projection of yours," Wang Ming tossed out the words lightly, calm and composed, not placing his opponent in his eyes in the slightest.
"Hmph!"
The Scarlet God Valley Master snorted angrily, directly urging the Saint weapon Scarlet God Furnace into action, fully reviving it. Every inch of the furnace body erupted with dazzling crimson radiance, divine Great Dao traces appearing, shaking the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, like a heavenly sun striking horizontally at Wang Ming.
"Master, be careful!" Wang Shan shouted loudly. He had suffered a terrible loss from that earlier.
But Wang Ming merely snorted coldly. His palm instantly blotted out heaven and earth, slapping forward, winds and clouds sweeping through the ninth heaven as it collided.
A terrifying explosion rang out, shaking the entire city. Only a soaring crimson light was seen, which then rapidly vanished. The entire Saint weapon Scarlet God Furnace was sent flying by a single slap, a clear palm print appearing on its body.
The Scarlet God Valley Master's figure grew even more ethereal and indistinct, having suffered severe destructive damage, nearly shattering his projection.
Even though everyone had long known of the supreme power of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky, everything displayed in this scene demonstrated their extreme terror.
The whole world was shocked. Even though they had long known of the peerless strength of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky, seeing this still made them suck in a cold breath. It was simply powerful beyond comprehension.
The Scarlet God Valley Master's figure shook unsteadily, shock also appearing on his face. This junior Wang Ming was too powerful, actually forcing him to the brink of destruction.
Although this was only a projection of his, fused with his own essence blood and the Scarlet God Furnace, the combat power it could unleash wasn't much inferior to a Saint Lord's. Yet it had been so utterly weak.
It could only be said that Wang Ming was too powerful.
"Junior Wang Ming, do you truly wish to start a full-scale war with my Scarlet God Valley?" he roared, threatening Wang Ming, even threatening the Black Sky Plains.
"Besides the Scarlet God Valley, what else can you use to threaten me? Just you, an old fellow who's lived over a thousand years?" Wang Ming mocked expressionlessly, giving a cold laugh. "And what does the Scarlet God Valley amount to? An Immortal Sacred Land? Ridiculous. My Black Sky Plains has never feared them. Moreover, if you dare offend her, the Tai Chu Sacred Land, the Myriad Worlds Palace, and the Yao Chi Heavenly Court will not let you off."
He pointed at Chen Ruo, naming one colossal entity after another that shook the myriad realms—all were truly supreme Sacred Lands, of exalted status, far more terrifying than ordinary Immortal Sacred Lands. Legend had it they were guarded by supreme Great Powers who ruled over myriad domains, revered across all domains.
Everyone was astonished. The Scarlet God Valley Master also paled. Just who was this young girl, to have several supreme Sacred Lands backing her?
Even Ye Chen was somewhat stunned. He truly hadn't known Chen Ruo had such an incredibly terrifying background. He was rather curious now.
But those who truly knew Chen Ruo's identity understood just how closely connected this young girl was to the various supreme Sacred Lands.
"He killed a King of your clan, right?" Wang Ming pointed at Ye Chen, his cold smile full of mockery. He snorted, "If you knew who he was, you wouldn't dare pursue him even with a hundred times your courage."
The crowd was shocked. Chen Ruo's background already sounded terrifying enough, but the youth's background sounded even more terrifying.
If an ordinary person said it, it would be met with scorn. But this was the fourth great bandit Wang Ming speaking, making it utterly credible. Many began guessing just who the youth was.
Wang Shan was also extremely curious. Only Chen Ruo seemed to have known all along.
The Scarlet God Valley Master's face changed repeatedly. He hadn't expected the two so-called youngsters he had provoked to be one more terrifying than the other. But what their identities were remained unclear.
"Don't try to scare me. Who are they really?" demanded the Scarlet God Valley Master.
"You're not qualified to know. Scram."
Boom—
Wang Ming attacked again, taking his disciple Wang Shan's spiked club. This newly forged Saint weapon spiked club erupted with immortal Saint might in his hands. He unleashed three consecutive strikes, each stronger than the last, shattering heaven, earth, and void, landing on the Scarlet God Furnace.
Despite the Scarlet God Valley Master's look of horrified shock, desperately urging the Saint weapon Scarlet God Furnace with all his might, it ultimately let out a mournful cry. The Scarlet God Furnace was violently blasted apart, transforming into a shower of crimson meteors that scattered in all directions, no longer whole.
The world was appalled. The fourth great bandit was too powerful. A powerful Saint weapon had just been blasted apart like that. Truly worthy of being one of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky.
"What Scarlet God Valley, Immortal Sacred Land? Ridiculous." Wang Ming snorted coldly, not placing it in his eyes at all. Then he turned and looked at Ye Chen, striding over. Ye Chen also smiled, and they embraced each other tightly—
"Long time no see!"